National Statistical Service

What is the Essential Statistical Assets (ESA) for Australia initiative?

The availability of trusted official statistical information to inform public debate and enable decision-making is fundamental to transparent government and democracy. Statistics help inform us how society is progressing and provide a window through which the work and performance of government can be evaluated and assessed.

The ESA for Australia initiative is a collaborative effort between the ABS and other Commonwealth and State/Territory government organisations. The aim of the initiative is to allow for effective prioritisation of investment, focus and effort within the NSS, by identifying those essential statistical assets which are critical to decision-making in a complex and sometimes fragmented information environment across Australia.

Developing a list of essential statistics, and the quality assessment process itself, has enabled the Australian Government, in partnership with state and territory governments, to pursue the following objectives:

1. More efficient use of government resources by identifying areas of duplication and underutilisation; 2. Ensuring that the critically important information (statistics/data) are of sufficient quality; and 3. Identification of critical information gaps, so that these can be addressed.

Ultimately, the pursuit of these objectives through the ESA for Australia initiative aims to enhance the quality and value of Australia's statistical system to ensure providers and users of statistics have the confidence to trust the statistics produced within it.

Who should I contact for further information, or to comment on the overall initiative?

As the ESA for Australia initiative is a continually evolving project, we welcome your comments and feedback on this version of the list, as well as the next phases of the ESA for Australia initiative. If you would like further information or would like to submit comments about the initiative, please contact the Director of the National Statistical Service Leadership Section at the following address: